WHPA Press Release 2002 [Nurses, Doctors and Pharmacists Join in Condemning Human Cloning]

Geneva, 7 January 2002 - The World Health Professions Association (WHPA) today publicly stated opposition to the cloning of human beings. WHPA is calling for a global ban on further human cloning experiments. The WHPA was speaking on behalf of the world's nurses, physicians and pharmacists, in reaction to the recent announcement that a U.S. company had cloned a human embryo for the first time. The WHPA is an alliance of the International Council of Nurses, the International Pharmaceutical Federation and the World Medical Association.

"The scientific and technical feasibility of human cloning is one thing. The ethical acceptability is quite another," stated Judith Oulton, Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses. "Human cloning violates the right to one's unique genetic identity and dignity and as such should be banned."

" We call on health professionals and researchers to abstain from participating in the cloning of human beings," declared Dr Delon Human, Executive Secretary of the World Medical Association. "Controls based on the scientific, ethical and legal issues associated with human cloning must be put in place."

"The vast majority of the nations of the world have no legislation or guidelines relating to human cloning, explained Ton Hoek, Secretary General of the International Pharmaceutical Federation. " Global agreement on this issue is needed urgently or we will see a proliferation of experiments in human cloning, with potentially tragic results."

The World Health Professions Alliance has been established to facilitate collaboration among the key health professions so that they may work together in support of governments, policy makers and the World Health Organization to better deliver cost effective, quality health care worldwide.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 120 national nurses' associations representing the millions of nurses world-wide. Operated by nurses for nurses since 1899, ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is a world-wide federation of national pharmaceutical (scientific) associations and has as its mission to represent and serve pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences around the globe.
The World Medical Association (WMA) is a global federation of national medical associations, representing the millions of physicians world-wide. Acting on behalf of physicians and patients, the WMA endeavours to achieve the highest possible standards of medical science, education, ethics and health care for all people.

For further information contact Linda Carrier-Walker Tel : +41 22 908 0100;
fax : +41 22 908 0101; email: carrwalk@icn.ch; Web site www.icn.ch

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